Targa Tasmania Special

Meetings : 4th Tuesday of Jan to Nov from 7:30 pm Denistone Sports Club 59 Chatham Road West Ryde May 2009 Targa Tasmania Special

IN THIS ISSUE Ms Pres Says - A Targa Tasmania Special - One for the Ladies -

The Official Organ of the Classic Rally Club Inc (Affiliated with CAMS) Postal Address: The Secretary, P.O. Box 2044, North Parramatta NSW 1750 Please make phone calls before 9.00 pm

Deadline for next Newsletter - Friday 12 June 2009

The opinions and advice provided in this newsletter do not necessarily represent those of the Classic Rally Club Inc and its officers. No responsibility will be accepted for the opinions, advice and directions contained in this newsletter. Readers should rely on their own enquiries and make their own decisions. www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 2 Rally Directions - May 2009 Ms Pres Says - or in Reality, a report from CRC on Targa Tasmania I’m afraid with the early deadline for the but there may have been more trouble, as magazine this month, we haven’t had a they withdrew from the last two legs. great deal happening and I will be filling most of this page and the next couple with news from our members who competed in Targa. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to be at the last meeting but I had several reports that Bruce Garland’s presentation was well worth listening to. So sorry I missed it. Coming up this weekend (as you read this) we see the return of the AROCA Tour d’Corse. Tony Wise tells me they have a great field lined up, so fingers crossed it all goes well and that the weather gods are smiling on the Southern Highlands. Three weeks later, Ian & Wendy Gibbs will be having a second run of the Highland Fling. I’m assured it will be less ‘challenging’ than last year. Get your entries for this one-dayer in now!! Only two weeks later – can I now have an apology from those whingers who said there was nothing on the calendar – it will be time for June Christmas in the Blue Mountains. Brian Madigan is waiting for your phone call. Then it will only be three weeks till the Mountain Rally. Suddenly, it’s all go! Car No 244-1961 Volvo P544-Early Classic Paul Batten & Mike Batten Now on to a report on Targa. Paul & Mike had an absolute blinder, winning the The event ran for five full days using 34 closed road handicapped Early Classic category by a margin of stages, preceded by a prologue on the Tuesday, 9 minutes 46 seconds from the 2nd placed Jensen when entrants are seeded. CV8. In outright Classic, where they were up against cars up to 1990, they came a mighty 5th place, only 17 minutes behind three times winner, Rex Broadbent in a Porsche 911 Carrera RS! Needless to say, when I ran across the Batten team that night at dinner, there were grins from ear to ear.

Car No 208-1958 Austin Healey Sprite-Early Classic Peter Smith & Ashley Smith Peter & Ashley were running well – in the top half of Early Classic. I heard they had a broken brake line www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 3 Rally Directions - May 2009 Car No 412 -1971 Renault Alpine – Early Classic Ernst Luthi & Sonja Luthi Sadly, after all the time spent on the restoration and preparation of the gorgeous Alpine, it wasn’t quite ready for Targa. Ernst & Sonja spent the week on the sideline! You’ll notice that the photo above is one taken in the garage, rather than the more exciting action shots of others. We’re now waiting for the action in 2010.

Car No 679-1979 Ferrari 308 GTB-Late Classic David Gilliver & Nigel Shellshear Nigel’s always smiling when you come across him on a tarmac rally – probably has something to do with the fact that he has a steady stream of Ferrari owners, who let him drive their cars! They were running 10th out of 52 in Late Classic till the Queenstown stage brought them unstuck. The result is below. Nigel wasn’t driving...... Amazingly, they have a contact with six right hand front quarters of a 308, so it won’t be off the road for long.

Car No 510-1974 Porsche 911-Late Classic Wayne Gerlach & Dianne Gerlach The Gerlachs were running well and in the top half nd of Late Classic till the 2 last stage of Leg 4, when Unbelievably, they got the car out, removed the front a clutch cable let them down. Unfortunately the right right quarter and drove it through to Hobart, where spare wasn’t in the box and they had to withdraw and they were able to cross the finish line in time and miss the final nail-biting drive down the west coast of receive their ‘Finishers’ Medals. It may have been a Tassie. It was probably their best result yet until fate mashed Ferrari but they were still smiling. intervened.

www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 4 Rally Directions - May 2009 of Leg 3. Unfortunately, a blown engine at the end of Leg 4 meant an untimely end to their event.

Car No 703-1985 Jaguar XJ S HE-Late Classic Geoff Bott & Brian Foster Car 703 was again raising money for the research team of the Oncology Children’s Foundation at Car 989-2005 Mitsubish Lancer Evo IX-Modern Westmead Hospital. I don’t know how much they Dominic Votano & Kim Votano raised but judging by the number of sponsors’ names Dominic & Kim were another Rookie Rally team all over the car, it must have been quite a lot. I’m from ’08. They got as far as the start of the 2009 also presuming they auctioned off the bonnet again Prologue but sadly no further. Electrical issues lead at the presentation lunch. People with a couple of to their demise but I’m sure the Tasmanian wineries, drinks under their belt always seem to be particularly gourmet delis and restaurants benefited! generous. They drove a careful event and managed to keep the big cat on the road (most of the time) and running all The scene inside the Silverdome in Launceston the way to the finish. Car 703 was also being tracked – the overnight parc ferme for all 250 odd Targa ‘real time’ by Aerotrac, along with Rex Broadbent, competitors – was quite a sight. It was also quite JasonWhite, Ray Vandersee and Jim Richards. It was a week for the many CRC competitors and nine extraordinary to hear the news that Gentleman Jim officials involved! had crashed the 911 and lost his chance to take the Carol Both, Alan Watson, Tony Shepherd and Peter top podium place for the 9th time. His navigator, Barry Grant formed the ‘official’ CRC Timing team. Simon Oliver came into HQ with the withdrawal form and Duff and his mate from WA helped make up another. said “I bet you never thought you’d see this”. It seems I received glowing reports on them all. Westie and no one is bullet proof – not even Gentleman Jim. Tony Pennell were out on the stages and Jo Vettoretti and I did our usual CRO thing. Time to start looking for cheap flights for April 2010......

Car 506-1975 Toyota Celica 1600 GT-Late Classic Kerry Smith & David Kirkby Kerry & David entered the two day Rookie Rally last year – a bit of a tempter for the real thing. They obviously had a ball, because they came back for the full event in 2009. They were running well in the little Celica until they dropped the exhaust. An emergency fix with farmer’s binding wire and a trip to Burnie to get it welded saw them way behind the field at the end www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 5 Rally Directions - May 2009 Short Cuts

WEDDING CARS A TIMELY REMINDER Although entries for the Jaguar Mountain If anyone owns a cream Jag or vintage Rally don’t close until 16th June, it is filling car and is interested in transporting a FAST. Our usual CRC convention (yes, bride and bridesmaids on 31st October we do it too) of not entering an event until 2009 between the Minnamurra Rainforest we finish the preceding one, may back and Kiama, please contact Jane Hadley fire this time. Don’t forget the Mountain ([email protected]). They would Rally is on the CRC Point Score and does be required for approximately 3 hours. contain navigation, at Pre Apprentice level, in the Challenge category, along FROM LUI - AN ADDITION TO MS PRES with all the trivia and fun that has made Apologies to Robert Gambino, driving a 1976 this event so popular with ‘grass roots’ Ferrari 308 GTB in Late Classic. Robert and his co- rally types. At the time of writing, there driver Matthew Reid disappeared from the results was only a handful of rooms left at the after Leg 2 – cause unknown. Zig Zag Motel for the optional Friday night accommodation. Go to the club web site for Regs. & entries.

NOTE: Would representatives from other marque clubs please advise their members. M y s t e r y Member

Above is a photo sent in by Jeff West while visiting Tasmania for If you’ve got any newsy snippets about CRC members or classic rallying please email the the Targa Tasmania - CRCers Editor support local economy www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 6 Rally Directions - May 2009 Drive It Like You Stole It By Geoff Bott Was the advice from some when we entered the 2009 to push us out. Fortunately an FIV (First Intervention Targa Tasmania in my 1985 XJS TWR JaguarSport Vehicle) towed us out and we roared off again after Replica. As this was our second time around, we having a quick look to ensure that nothing critical had a few ideas to make our adventure a bit less was broken bent or leaking. However, we took 20 tiring after our 2008 event when inadequate ground minutes to do the seven minute stage so this meant clearance gave us few problems. So the ride height we lost the chance of winning a Targa Plate for a was raised by placing spacers under the front springs trouble free run. and fitting 255x16x50 The last two days of the Toyo R888 series tyres rally took us down the instead of the 225x16x50 west coast and it rained Yokohama Advans, thus heavily. This actually suits giving us an increase of me as my forte is the more about 45mm. While the slow and slippery section Targa is an all tarmac rally, and we even overtook a the surfaces can undulate Porsche and others going quite severely and when downhill after the fabulous you wind up two tonnes of Queenstown hillclimb. fully laden Jaguar to 200 By now, there was a km/hr you get quite excited severe attrition rate with when you hit the dips and the leading Lamborghini crests! Gallardo Superleggara Brian Foster has guts of cast iron and the poor fool crashing out on Queenstown and pre event favourite prefers to navigate with me rather than drive. He has Jim Richards hitting a bank in his Porsche GT2. In some doubts about this now but more later. fact 27% of the cars in the 250 car field failed to finish, mostly due to finding pieces of scenery in the Seeding is done on Day 0 by running in an around wrong place. the houses flat out sprint in Georgetown. It only takes about 4 minutes but is very entertaining and brings The final stage at Risdon outside of Hobart was very some tyros undone big time if they smack a kerb. I smooth and was a great finishing stage where we was duly circumspect and found myself accused of went well and exploited the 6 litre power as much as foxing by Wayne Gerlach. Fact is that I was preserving possible. Arriving at the finish at the Hobart Casino the car. and being presented with our finisher’s medals was a great thrill but even better was to receive a Targa The next 3 days consisted of a series of loops run Tasmania Plate as a class winner. Three Jaguars out of Launceston in very mountainous territory with started, a 1962 E-type FHC, a series 1 XJ6 and very large trees growing on the verge of the road. us. All finished. We also raised about $5000 for The weather looked threatening but was dry for all of child cancer research for good measure. You can the competitives. We usually fitted in 8 or 9 special read all about us on www.car703.com or visit http: stages per day and this included stages in the towns //www.targa.org.au/ of Longford and Devonport. These are all linked by public road touring sections where it is very difficult Sadly the clutch cable failed on the Gerlach’s to keep you speed down to normal levels. We had Porsche on Day 4 and it was all over for them. a great time in the XJS as I discovered that the new (What! A Jaguar more reliable than a Porsche?) ride height meant that I could pound along at a much Very regretably the Luthi’s Renault Alpine was not greater rate than the previous year as I did not have to ready in time and had to be withdrawn before the be so careful about the road surface. We were now an start but Ernst reckons they will be there for next overtaker instead of being overtaken! year instead. Then disaster. I was listening to Brian’s call of the We saw M/s Pres, Westie, Mr Treasurer and many pace notes on the Mt Claude stage and he called a left others enroute and at the CRC South dinner at 5 and I overcooked it, locked up and we slid across an Launceston. A good time was had by all. No- intersection, hit a small bank and bounced completely one was really badly injured but Kevin Weeks had over a ditch. All was well until I tried to reverse out and several cracked ribs when he crashed the Lambo the front wheels dropped into the ditch and we were (desperately trying to keep up with us?). stranded like a large red whale! The spectators were very appreciative of this display but were not allowed

www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 7 Rally Directions - May 2009 Another Good Targa for the Batten Volvo PV544 By Mike Batten A couple of years ago I threatened some great people along the way. not to take the Volvo back to Targa Thanks to Dad for the opportunity Tasmania. At the time my car to drive, and for the good job in the was being overshadowed by the navigators seat.” said Paul, who introduction of the Classic Outright drove the entire event. Competition. We had prepared it The Volpro Team service crew originally for Targa in 1999 to have did a great job to keep the high a chance of winning the Classic maintenance Volvo running at full Competition, which was runas a speed over the event. The distributor, handicap event. I felt the changes head gasket and front suspension were unfair as our 1961 car would were all fixed after different days and be no match for more highly modified didn’t cost the team any time. cars, some manufactured as recently as 1990. However the lure of the exceptional roads was too much and this year Mike commented “Paul said he was only cruising but I saw the red beast returning for the 11th year in a row. believe his drive showed exceptional talent. It felt very fast to me, but as we didn’t have any moments it shows how Last year I shared the driving with my son Paul. However well he handled the conditions. The car was well prepared on the first two days we slipped 90 seconds behind the but still the crew were busy dealing with the problems leaders in the Shannons Early Classic Competition, which that came up. Thanks to Kari Dirickx from Seldom Seen is run as a handicap event. With Paul driving much faster Vehicles and Engineering and Gary Comerford our engine than I could we finished 2nd in the competition. This year builder from Volpro Automotive with his son Ashley who the tactic was for Paul to drive from the start and this was serviced the car. Thanks also to Russell from Stuckey’s shown to be working when we held a 26 second lead after Tyres for the Dunlop R1’s. I have been bringing the car Day 1. down for 11 years and this is our first handicap win. I am By Day 2 we held a 43 second lead to last year’s winners amazed with our 5th Classic Outright place in a 1961 John Siddins and Darren Ferguson in a Datsun 240Z. Limited Modified Volvo. These results definitely exceed On Day 3 Siddins made a rare my wildest expectations”. driving mistake, maybe due to the pressure and was out of the running. We finished that day with EARLY CLASSIC (Provisional) a 3 minute 4 second lead to the 1. Paul Batten (VIC), Mike Batten Ullrich and Ullrich Jensen. (NSW), 1961 Volvo PV544, 16.09 2. Peter Ullrich (NSW), Sari Wet and slippery roads on Days 4 Ullrich (NSW), 1963 Jensen CV8, and 5 lead to many cars crashing. 25.55 The Early Classic Competition saw 3. Andrew White (NT), Ashley Batten/Batten take the win from Yelds (USA), 1961 Volvo 122S, Ullrich/Ullrich in their Jensen CV8 30.03 and White/Yelds in their Volvo 122S. The team also managed 5th Classic Outright finishing CLASSIC OUTRIGHT (Provisional) the non-handicap competition amongst some very fast 1. Rex Broadbent, Michael Goedheer, Porsche 911 machinery with 102 cars entered. This competition saw Carrera RS, 21.20 the 1961 Volvo PV544 finishing behind three Porsche 911 2. Bill Pye (NSW), Grant Geelan (NSW), Porsche Carrera’s and a Nissan Skyline GTS-t in a competition 911 RS, 23.14 which spans the 44 years from 1946 to 1990. 3. Ben Wooster (QLD), Tim Kulhanek (QLD), “We had a really enjoyable but challenging event. The Nissan Skyline GTS-t, 23.32 Volvo is tricky to drive in the dry so the wet took some 4. John Ireland, Micheal Ribot, Porsche 911 getting used to but it was good fun in the end. The plan was Carrera 3, 33.14 to enjoy ourselves and not take any risks, we managed to 5. Paul Batten, Mike Batten, 1961 Volvo PV544, do both so we are really happy with the result and we met 38.19 www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 8 Rally Directions - May 2009 � � ��

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www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 9 Rally Directions - May 2009 Black Cats and Chinamen in Tasmania - Our Targa 2009 By Peter Smith

After a sudden demise following an engine seize accel first call 3 right oh s*** forgot the cold tyres up on stage 6 Day 1 of Targa 2008 due to a 50c paper the kerb thank god that tree and that pole were put gasket failure you’d think that bad luck had moved on over there not here. Gather thoughts and 1st gear but read on………….. and off again taking note of any extra noises. End of the stage we are happy with time considering our Targa log summary for 2009: little kerb parking on route but note that the LHF rim One week before has a chunk out and is slightly straightened (No 2) Accommodation booked, ferry booked, work fixed although there appears no other damage despite up, spares fixed and car ready for loading onto trailer the hard hit. Return back to Silverdome service – this year was going to make up on last year. for a check over and with wheel off note that LHF suspension mounting points have almost been Sat 28th April - All the team get on board the trusty pulled out (No 3). Lots of phone calls and off to a service/tow car and head south for sunny Melbourne local smash repairer to borrow some floor space and and the boat trip across the roaring forties. a welder. 3 hours later and welded back up + plated Sun 29th April - Early drive from Devonport to (thanks Ash that TAFE course was worth it) we Launceston via an excellent roadside bakery for some return to the Silverdome for “normal” servicing and breakfast and a latte. Its now raining heavily (as it then park ferme. Day 0 finished at 9.30pm – another does in Tasmania!). Can’t check into the Country Club Hungry Jacks…….And that was just Day 0……… till 10.00am so we all go to the Silverdome (Targa Day 1. Wed 2nd May - Official start day at the Country Launceston headquarters) to see if we can go through Club and all is going well they even announced Ash’s documentation early yes we can – great. Return to 21st birthday for the day before. Transport out to the the Country Club and check in as we have plenty of north of Launceston for the real start of the Targa. time to get to scrutineering for 1.40pm. After check in Initial stages go well and are a good shakedown to its back to the Silverdome again to unload the Sprite check all systems (car and personal) are functional. off the trailer. How smoothly everything was going this Stage 5 Holwell covered at good speed and getting was going to be a great year for us then we headed for into the rhythm when that damn oil lamp flickers at scrutineering and at that moment somewhere a switch the chicane then a flicker turns into more of a “glow” was thrown……… surely not – this is even one stage sooner than last Move forward please….sorry I can’t the starter motor year……the end of the stage is near so a cautional just failed (no 1). A big push start (one advantage of a wind down and over the flying finish at 0RPM the small light car is there are always plenty of volunteers quietest Sprite ever at that speed. Roll away from as they can’t fail (?)). Scrutineering over but its still the time control and open the bonnet - oil line fitting pouring with rain and the service area is in the open so from block broken (No4) and oil everywhere – not it’s off for a drive to find some shelter to effect repairs. a pretty site. Service crew cross country their way Not an easy task on a Sunday but we found a single back to us have a discussion – looks like the day carport behind a 2nd hand office supplies building – it is a DNF so some engine parts are removed and even had a spare table on which to place our handtools! its back to Launceston via Pirtek to get the trailer. Ideal but on a slope so the complete contents of the Ashley says hello to car 999. 4 hours later we arrive watershed ran under the car and across our tarp whilst back at Silverdome service for some more nightly lying on it. Problem found – bad contacts on the starter service/repairs (and Hungry Jacks again). Day 1 solenoid. All good, problem fixed then (or was it?). over – score DNF. rd Mon 30th April - lazy day and catch up with paperwork Day 2. Thurs 3 May - Some good stages today. First then off to the drivers briefing for 5pm stage of the day we have a good run and then start on transport section to attack the infamous Sideling. st Day 0. Tues 1 May - Wake up to a beautiful clear blue Alternator light starts to flicker not the first time as sky perfect for the Prologue today which is a good we are used to the Prince of Darkness…….but this wake up for the brain with the driving to come over develops into more lamp activity as we approach the the next 5 days. We get our report time and drive off stage start and voltage drops down to 12V – great to Georgetown. All going well. After the time control looks like it’s the battery only for this stage. Stage we line up in front of the start timer. 5-4-3-2-1 go!! Max

www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 10 Rally Directions - May 2009 goes well – Ashley’s note calling is spot on and we and a modified one fitted. Then onto another Service get into the rhythm (apart from that annoying red at the Silverdome to check the car over and fit the lamp) and push hard. However life was not meant to new ignition solenoid and looking forward at last to be that easy………500metres from the flying finish an early night before the big run on Day 4 over to the the engine temp shoots up and we go through the west coast. That was the plan but a tired brain (and flying finish at 0 RPM. Of course by this time we are maybe too much Hungry Jacks) meant that a charge getting used to it. This time we cannot get out of the wire to the replacement ignition solenoid was not closed road section so roll to a halt and open the refitted and Mr Murphy made sure that the loose end bonnet to survey the damage. Drive belt to the water was sitting on the rear brake line……the result oh pump has sheared (No5) and remains flown off into yeah, great, a burnt out oil pressure gauge line (No the scrub somewhere in the surrounding Tasmanian 12). Rapid blocking off the oil line fitting with solder wilderness. Oh, and the charging problem at the start and running without a gauge was the only option at of the stage was the diode pack on the alternator 11.00pm at night and it seemed to hold pressure. which had destroyed itself (No 6). Phone calls (to Then off to plan the next days service schedule and everywhere) located the only drivebelt in Tasmania off to bed. Not even Hungry Jacks tonight………. 2 .5 hours away in Ulverstone. After a discussion Day 4 Sat 5th May - Looking forward to a great day – looks like the day is a DNF again. Ashley again says of stages ahead Cethana, Hellyer Gorge etc despite hello to car 999 and this time I also get to exchange feeling as though we’d slept round the car all night. pleasantries. Back to Silverstone Service…..again. Returned early to the Silverdome for the morning Special newly delivered start and to check over drivebelt fitted, new the previous nights water pump fitted and car work. Shock horror the finished to put away in previous nights short Parc Ferme for the night circuit had burnt through – right? No wrong. The the rear steel brake line engine starter motor fails (No 13) and we were to fire into action (No 7). without rear brakes 2.5 hours later at 10.30 perfect for that little at night we are in a local run through the days retired electricians home stages. Anyone who workshop soldering up has driven these roads and modifying internal on the wild western solenoid wires. Another side of Tasmania would Hungry Jacks. know the insanity of Day 3 Fri 4th May - Third driving them without day of competition isn’t rear brakes. And so our The Sprite after completing the Prologue 3rd time lucky? Nervously watching all instruments eventful Targa 2009 had come to an end………… and lamps we manage to complete 4 stages and get and thankfully also the Hungry Jacks. to experience our first lunch halt aren’t Tasmanian So next time someone says to you that No 13, Black apples wonderful. Full of confidence again we restart cats (or even running over Chinamen) is lucky for for the afternoon looks like 3rd time IS lucky…….then some please do not believe them. Do we come back on the Paloona stage a misfire develops 3⁄4 through next year to finish unfinished business? – ask me the stage and we burble through the flying finish on next week not this………… 3 cylinders – a spark plug contact had rotated loose from the plug lead (No 8). Next stage Mt Claude oh yes the alternator lamp flickers back into action again. Meet the long suffering service crew on the next touring stage and yes the diode pack on the alternator has destroyed itself (No 9) fit another spare at least the bolts were not tight and all the tools known like the back of the hand. Continue to last stage of the day and we have a ripper except of course for that annoying flickering alternator charge lamp (yep that’s No 10) and of course a loose wire on the ignition solenoid (No 11). A trip to the local electrician and hopefully a solution to the alternator problem is found www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 11 Rally Directions - May 2009 Secretary’s Stuff 2009 By Tony Kanak

Hello Everyone, is also the start of the ski season, and if conditions look promising that will take care of what to do on As I write this it is only a short look back to Easter the Monday. So I’ll need to take something that in Canberra and a very successful national Jensen can be fitted with chains as per RTA and NPWS Club get-together that my family was involved in. requirements. I would like the poor snow deprived Also in Canberra for Easter were a bevy of Chevrolet Volvo to see and experience snow properly before Corvettes representing much of the history of this it dies, but I don’t own any snow chains to fit it. long running model (born 1953), AND about ten Travelling the Snowy Mtns Highway from Tumut to Ansair buses. Older reader will remember these sort Mt Selwyn and perhaps Jindabyne and beyond- but of aircraft fuselage styled buses with the rounded later returning to Sydney via Cooma makes it tough, tail, from their glory days in use as Pioneer coaches I expect, to hire chains in Tumut- but I’ll check this etc. The buses date from the same era as the early out further to see if the trusty Volvo can be used. So Corvettes, and at the time were the pinnacle of on the morning of Saturday June 6th at Glenbrook forward looking styling applied to transportation. It you can expect to see us in the er..... seems every type of quirky vehicle has a following, even when a supersize garage or workshop might be required. Would anybody like to loan to me, or donate some snow chains to fit 165 x15 tyres? You would have my enduring gratitude, though our children might hate More recently, at the April club meeting we were you.... regaled with tales of enormous motoring challenges in the recent South American version of the famed Dakar events. It was a privilege to be in the audience Last but not least- I took a broken wheel stud (from at the meeting and we can only hope one day for the passenger’s side front hub) to the Jensen Club the book, or for younger folk- the DVD which will Canberra gathering to remind people that periodic chronicle the blood, sweat, tears, skill and money and and preventive maintenance is worth thinking about, other resources that are needed to finish this type not just using the approach of only fixing something of event. (I typed “chronicle, not “record” to stop the when it is broken. And, no, Jensen didn’t make smart arses telling me that they already have a Blood, these studs, they are of a generic sort, so it was not Sweat and Tears Record. You know who you are- and Jensen’s fault. act your age)!

Why a wheel stud? Well it is the same age as the car Also at the April meeting, Ian Gibbs provided a sort (at least), it has been done up and undone countless of outline of the newly revamped for 2009 Highland times since 1973, and probably with a rattle gun Fling, which looms soon in the CRC calendar. Ian before we took over this vehicle about twenty years said, with apparent confidence, that he expected ago? It has taken some of the load of countless many to clean-sheet this one, such is the relative potholes, zillions of heating and cooling cycles and ease of the event this time around. He also says the Targa Tasmania and other stress. And in the course pies at the Robertson (approach from the NE) pie of rotating the tyres with a hand wheel brace, the shop have improved. Alas there is only one way to week before Easter it just broke. It did this at 0kph, test both of these claims- and that is to enter. Actually on the jack in the garage. Ideal circumstances really, Ian wouldn’t say if the Pie Shop was on the route but a nuisance, and with some suitable spares on hand, it is at a notable road junction.... just another delay in getting to the next chore.

A reminder also that if you are short of classic In another place and time the loss of one wheel motoring plans for the June long weekend, the stud might be more worrying. Having one stud CRC is going to the Temora aviation museum, via broken increases the load on the four others by a the west, with an overnight stop on the Saturday proportionate amount. At only 7/16 inch diameter in Young. More information about this was in last they are not over engineered compared to a humble month’s magazine, and is on the club website. I am Ford Falcon, for example, which has 1⁄2 diameter coordinating this social run, and as yet I don’t know studs. How is the internal metallurgy standing up to which vehicle we’ll be taking, because this weekend www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 12 Rally Directions - May 2009 time and these stresses in the wheel studs fitted to your car? French cars with only a trio of wheel studs at each corner might take special note? One for the

The same story goes for brake hoses. The original Ladies Jensen advice was that the key braking components By Wendy Maher like calipers and hoses receive quite frequent attention and overhaul/replacement. Only the most Ladies, I must let you know we should all be proud fastidiously maintained vehicles would have received of Gary Maher. Thursday morning two weeks ago, this degree of attention. It gets expensive of course on the 2UE ‘Mike & Sandy’ show, Sandy announced to replace parts that are still working, and a car is not that Gregory & UBD might stop printing street like an aeroplane, it won’t fall out of the sky. Well no, directories as most (?) people now use a GPS. it won’t, but thirty years is plenty old for brake hoses. This, of course, prompted Mike Carlton to say it was So is twenty years for that matter! just as well as most women can’t navigate! (A ‘Red rag to a Bull’). Gary phoned in and said he wanted to support women navigators, then gave the CRC a I have seen rubber brake hoses fail without external plug and mentioned the number of excellent women evidence by delaminating internally and becoming navigators that are in the club, explaining the type virtually blocked. This prevents transfer of pressure of navigation, maps etc that are used. Mike’s only and fluid to one wheel’s brake components. Often answer to this was a question about ‘can she cook’ the effect is barely noticeable in gentle driving at low to which Gary also answered ‘Yes’. So we should speed. At higher speed the stopping certainty, and all applaud him for standing up for us – many of the distances can go haywire. It can also cause a brake other callers didn’t!! to drag significantly, and cook the brake components, I’ve had this happen in an AHRG rally 250 km from On the main topic though, I must say that it would be home and it isn’t pleasant! This problem was with the a shame if these companies do stop printing street ubiquitous Girling sourced brake components.... directories and wonder what can be done to prevent it. I’m not against the GPS system but I detest ‘that voice’ constantly telling me what to do – particularly There are some parts you don’t want to run to the end when I want to take the shortest route via back of their life. In owning a classic vehicle for a good time streets that the GPS doesn’t ‘compute’. They and a long time (we hope) you might consider the definitely have a place for people who don’t know appropriateness of the range of advice offered on a their way around the city but for those of us who do myriad of subjects, before making up your own mind. know how to read a map surely we should be given the choice. One inter state truck driver who phoned in was horrified as he carries a street directory for I think it was Tom Hoover, a noted developmental each capital city as well as a GPS – and he said engineer for Chrysler’s US performance operations, he often has to use the street directory to clarify the who when asked a question like “How will you know GPS or fully re assess where he actually is. when the development program for the 426 Hemi How about some ‘Letters to the Editor’ as comment engine has reached its potential”, replied “ When they on the topic? start running over the crankshaft as they cross the finish line”!

Perhaps a fine strategy for getting everything possible from parts in “bucks up” unlimited motor racing, but not the best in terms of predictability for your classic? Parts like these safety oriented pieces referred to above, are readily available from marque specialists, but perhaps not at the modern large auto stuff retail chains.

Drive carefully, and keep those cards and letters rolling in. The editor is always hungry for material for this magazine.Ladies, I must let you know we should www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 13 Rally Directions - May 2009 Targa Tasmania By Carol Both

like home…to me. Alan, whom I was sharing, with got the room with the bunks and no electric blanket. Such a gentleman. Prologue day was Tuesday and we went to Georgetown to watch via Beauty Point, where there is a sea horse farm. None of the men were interested in these little critters but were happy to drink coffee while I did the tour. The most interesting fact about sea horses is that the female deposits her eggs in the males pouch and then buggers off. The male has to fertilise and incubate the young. Doesn’t that seem like a good idea? On Tuesday night we attended the meeting of the Tasmanian chapter of the CRC. This of Dame Edna Everidge described Tasmania course was held at a pub which served rather as that little bushy triangle down the bottom, and that was where we were headed. After leaving Sydney on a fine sunny day we landed in Launceston to find it was raining and cold. Maybe, at last, I would get to wear my thermal underwear. This was my third year officiating at Targa, and I had three others who had answered my call for a fun week. Tony Shepherd, Alan Watson and Peter Grant had decided to venture forth. They are all retired, and I do wonder if their wives may have encouraged them to get out of the house . We stayed at Launceston for the first three nights, one night at St Helens on the east coast and two in Davenport. Lovely double beds with an electric blanket made it seem good pizzas. Dramatic events had already happened to some of our competitors. Sonia and Ernst Luthi turned up sans car. The Renault Dinalpin was not ready in time for the event. Ernst, at this stage had gone from disappointed to resigned. Sonia ,on the other hand, had gone from disappointed to angry. An angry Sonia is not a pleasant experience. Heaven help the mechanic. Dominic and Kim had arrived with their car only to find an electrical fault with the killer switch. Off to the autoelectrician.to get fixed, but this started a domino effect in the electrics which could not be sorted by the deadline. Garth Taylor came as support crew for Geoff Bott and Brian Foster in car 703.Aline Smith came to watch her husband Kerry drive his Celica which unfortunately www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 14 Rally Directions - May 2009 rest of the week. Peter was in control at the start, Tony was SLO (slow) writing down the actual start times and for the first two stages I was at the start doing whatever needed to be done. Usually I do finish, but it was fun to get to wave to our CRC members, 2 girl cousins ( one a driver ,the other navvying) and my sons mate who was navvying for his father. Alan got to spend the first two days at finishes. Next stop St Helens going via Bridport where there is, according to my husband, a great golf course. We never got to see Priscella the beer was a DNF drinking pig at the Pynegana pub ( not a great loss) but did run into –figuratively- Tony Pannell and Jeff West were also there having Lui and Jo as they were heading for the cheese come over on the ferry, and then spent a leisurely factory.. It appears that the Competitor Relations week driving around the countryside delivering Officers have a lot of spare time. things to stops. Friday was a town stage at Devonport . Every On the Wednesday we had to start doing what we year, somewhere, there will be a local yokel on were there for. Timing the starts and finishes. One a stage and this is where we got ours. After we stage per day. Civilised starts too, as we never had set up and were waiting for the first car, he had to get up before 6am while other teams had confided to me that he was glad that we weren’t to be on the road at 6am.So off to Beaconsfield. the same crew as last year as they were awful, We were supposed to get a new state of the art and did every thing wrong. The problem was that equipment using microprocessors instead of laptops, but these were not ready, and three days before the event , timing gear was cobbled together out of the old system. The screens on the laptops were almost unreadable, converters didn’t work and we had a 12 volt battery at starts that kept dropping its charge. We had to take the battery out of our car and piggyback the two together with jumper cables. The radio in the car was stuffed for the www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 15 Rally Directions - May 2009 1835 Georgian house on an original grant of 300 acres and open to the public.. It had been built by a grandson of Mary Reiby of Sydney. Alan and I were keen to see it while Tony and Peter sat around enjoying the sunshine. Then into Launceston to see Cataract Gorge and take the chairlift over the gorge. The trees had been cut back to make room for the chairlift and as we got closer we realised that the trees were Rhododendrons covered in buds. They really were trees and not shrubs as we know them. Covered

we were the same crew as last year and although he didn’t recognise us, we remembered him only to well History repeated itself and he was still a nuisance and as useless as last year.. When we had first gone to the Silverdome on Sunday to see the cars there was a little yellow fiat Ardbath with a bit of body damage that we discovered had rolled at Siddons Plains that day. Well, that Ardbath rolled again in Devonport just before the last corner. Some minutes later the navigator strode around the corner and down the footpath, anger and disgust evident in every step.( the road was still closed and the local yokel in buds, they will be great in 3-4wks time. It was a was having kittens) About ten minutes later the beautiful sunny day and the scenery was great. Ardbath crept around the corner, also on the footpath, with the windscreen tied to the roof I’d It was another great week in Tasmania although guess that was the end of that partnership. The I suspect that we did about 300 kms more than local yokel insisted we give the car a time but as we needed to due to Tony’s penchant for going it never crossed the official finish line and did not around in circles. This was contributed to by the have two crew we declined. presence of two navigators and a GPS in the car, and sometimes none of them could agree. Our last stage was at Lowanna. Lots of thick fog at the start but lovely at the finish as we were above Alan Watson, it appears has a fetish for shirts. the fogline. There was also a house right where Mostly flannos. He must have bought 4 of them we were so I had the and they came as brand new or second hand from luxury of a real loo. op shops. We all have our As our plane didn’t queer little leave until mid habits. afternoon on Sunday we did a little sight The weather seeing. Peter and was good, Tony had cooked the company us a breakfast of great and ham,eggs and I would be bacon to start out happy to do it right for the day. all over again. Actually it was just Thanks guys to get rid of the for a great leftovers. week. Across the road from where we .. were staying was Entally House An www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 16 Rally Directions - May 2009 CRC Classifieds - For Sale and Wanted Got something you want to sell, buy or swap? Email the Webmaster. To see complete ads with photos go to www.classicrallyclub.com.au

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www.classicrallyclub.com.au Page 19 Rally Directions - May 2009 2009 Events Calendar

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BOLD = Club Championship event

Information, entry forms and supplementary regulations for events can be downloaded from www.classicrallyclub.com.au

Please make phone calls before 9.00pm. Classic car folk need their sleep! This month’s Mystery Member is Glen Innes in 1938.

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